5 Netflix Shows to Binge on During Ramadan

From mind-blowing documentaries to chilling thrillers

On May 5, lots of Muslims will begin Ramadan, abstaining from food and drink from dawn until dusk. As the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is above all else a month of reflection and meditation, helping Muslims to reconnect with their faith and become better versions of themselves.

When the sun goes down, another ritual during Ramadan is watching television dramas. But with younger generations now turning to Netflix, massive family gatherings around passé TV dramas are turning in to a thing of the past. Funnily enough, ‘JOMO’ (the Joy of Missing Out) is replacing ‘FOMO’ (a recent survey showed that 78 per cent of millennials prefer to stay home), so there is no better time than Ramadan to relax, unwind and catch up on everything you’ve missed on Netflix over the last few months.

With more than 5,000 things to watch, we know that finding the right thing isn’t easy — so we rounded up the documentaries and crime-thrillers you need to watch this month.

Homecoming

An exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary that celebrates one of the biggest musical icons of our generation. Homecoming (which came out with an accompanying live music album) offers a sincere and intimate glimpse into Beyoncé’s creative, physical and mental preparation for her spectacular 2018 Coachella performance, a career-defining moment for Queen B, who affirms: “I definitely pushed myself further than I knew I could”.

Our Planet

After cult BBC shows Planet Earth and Blue Planet, 92-year-old veteran David Attenborough is back on Netflix with an eight-part series filled with breath-taking cinematography capturing the natural beauty of our planet. But this new show does so much more than its predecessors – it actually encourages you to act on climate change.

Street Food

Although Ramadan is a month of daily fasting, it is also a month of feasts and celebrations, reminding us about the importance of sharing and not taking anything for granted. Netflix’s new food program, which explores street food in Asia, follows the journeys of various chefs and their struggles. Street Food isn’t just about food; it’s about everything around it that makes it so important: family, culture, community and tradition. Perfect for the season.

Quicksand

This Swedish suspense-drama follows a teenage girl, and documents her journey, as she gets involved in a school shooting. Tapping into topics like justice, guilt and even racial inequality and toxic masculinity, this boundary-pushing thriller—based on a novel of the same name—seems so real it could easily be based on a true story.

Tidying up with Marie Kondo

Ramadan is the best time to cleanse and start fresh. So there’s no better time to tidy up and encourage new beginnings. But although tidying up often comes with the anxiety of not meeting accepted standards, Marie Kondo, the author of best-selling self-help guide The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing is here to help. Relax and learn.